Improvement in car-couplings



J. W. RADEBAUGH.

' Improvement in Car-Coupling.

.Patented Nov. 19,1872.

Fig. 1'.

:F WITNESSES.

A M PHOIU-LITHOG/MPHIL' C0. IV. LfOSBOfiNE PROCESS,

UNITED STATES PATENT- orrron.

JOSIAH w. RADEBAUGH, or LANCASTER, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of.Letters Patent No. 1 33,252, dated November 19, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSIAH W. RADEBAUGH, of Lancaster, in the county of Fairfield and State of Ohio, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Oarloupling; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawing making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawing is a representation of a sectional view of my invention. Fig. 2 is a side view; and Fig. 3 is a top view of the same.

This invention has relation to car-couplings; and has for its object to provide means for the coupling of cars of different heights of platform. The novelty therefore consists inthe improved construction and arrangement of the coupling-blocks and coupler-heads, as

hereinafter more fully described.

Referring to the drawing, A represents the coupler or bumper head, constructed with two or more bell-mouthed link-cavities, B B, arranged, respectively, the one above the other, as shown. Behind these cavities is a vertical slot, 0, of rectangular form, passing entirely through the bumper-head and opening in front into a narrower vertical slot, D, which is out directly through said cavities. The slot D communicates with a still narrower slot, E, cut through the mouths of the link-cavities. D represents the coupling-block, constructed so as to exactly fit the three slots 0 D E, bein g rabetted or tenoned at D E for such purpose. The upper part of said block is provided with beveled side-flanges gl, adapted to fit corresponding bevels al cut at the top of the slot D, and designed to prevent the coupling-block from falling through the slots. From the top of the coupling-block rises a lug, d holding a ring, d used in manipulating said block, either directly by hand or through the medium of lever connections.

. The front portion of the block is constructed with the beveled hooks F F, either of which,

coming in contact with the approaching link, will be raised thereby, and the block or catch D will be sufficiently elevated for the link to enter the recess behind the hook. The block with its hooks will then descend, securing the link. The shoulder g of the hook, against which the link works when coupled, is situated in rear of the lateral shoulders 2, which fall forward on each side of the hook. By this construction the strain is transferred from the hook to the shoulders 'v in rear of the first slot of the draw-head. The rear portion of the catch is also provided with a set of vertical lateral shoulders, 2, which engage with offsets c in rear of the second or middle slot of the draw-head. By this construction the longitudinal strain upon the catch is transferred tothe draw-head. The shoulder g above mentioned is rounded from side to side, and beveled or inclined upward and forward in order to cause the link to ride upward, the effect of which will be to keep the catch down, thus preventing accidental disconnection.

I am aware that a vertically-sliding catch is not new; hence I do not claim such broadly.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The car-coupling described, consisting ofthe double bell-mouth B B provided with communicating central vertical channels 0 D E, respectively, decreasing in width toward the mouth, and the vertically-sliding double catchblock D, laterally shouldered and re-enforced to fit said channels, the shoulders of the first re-enforce being arranged at the middle of the hooks F F, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim' the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

JOSIAH WILLIAM RADEBAUGH.

Witnesses:

P. B. EMBICH, BENDW'ELL RADEBAUGH. 

